new years eve and new years day
i went with a couple friends to a party with a prom theme thrown at this hotel. it was pretty fun, although I got drunk too fast (and paid the price later) because I came later than my friends, who were already very drunk, and i wanted to be drunk before midnight. so i got drunk and had fun for a while. well, except for the fact that my friend ditched me to hang out with this guy for a while and the other friend who is only my friend's friend who i just met, passed out early. and so I sat for 30 minutes and watched people dance. but i was drunk enough to wander around and talk to some random people briefly until my friend returned. then a little later it was not at all fun because i was puking mucho and my body felt like it was being ripped apart by the alcohol poison and i woke up so extremely hungover/still feeling drunk and got sick again before driving home. i make it sound like i drank a tank of alcohol but all i had was 3 beers, 1 glass of wine, 1 glass of champagne, and half a glass of vodka and grapefruit juice over the course of 5 hours. i am weaksauce!
then one new years day i had to bow to relatives and sit through HOURS of lectures from at least 10 different relatives. and they ALL said the same thing but in different words: LILY, YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH. YOU MUST PRAY EVERYDAY. YOU MUST READ THE BIBLE. YOU MUST GIVE YOUR LIFE TO GOD. YOU MUST HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING OR BE HAPPY WITHOUT GOD. and each relative feels the need to say this in a long 10 minutes speech where they repeat themselves 10 times (10 minutes might not seem like long a time, but when this happens 8 more times, you want to kill yourself!) one aunt said, no matter how much money or material possessions you have, if you don't have God, you won't be happy. and i thought to myself (i recognize this is mean-spirited but i'm at my wits end), well you and the rest of the family only think that because you ARE poor and need to tell yourself this to not feel depressed!
the last uncle asked me what my new years resolution for a purpose-driven 2006 was. my good younger cousins said dutifully (and sincerely i think), live life more for God. when it was my turn, i said, build my career, manage my time better and be more organized and stop being late to things, have a better relationship with my parents and brother and sister-in-law, and find a boyfriend (i thought that would appease all the relatives who keep saying, when are you getting married? it's time to get married!). but then my uncle replied, haven't you forgotten something? the most important thing? struggling not to groan and roll my eyes, I said, "oh, you mean, like go to church?" and he said, "yes...and anything else?" and i said, "um...read the bible and pray?" and he said, "yes...and anything else?" and then i was at a loss, so he said, "have a personal relationship with God!" AND EVERYONE ELSE sitting around voiced their agreement, nodding or saying that's right or yes or something. and my dad said, "Lily, God is your witness to this." ohmygod, WHY WAS I BORN INTO A FREAKIN' CULT!!
then one new years day i had to bow to relatives and sit through HOURS of lectures from at least 10 different relatives. and they ALL said the same thing but in different words: LILY, YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH. YOU MUST PRAY EVERYDAY. YOU MUST READ THE BIBLE. YOU MUST GIVE YOUR LIFE TO GOD. YOU MUST HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING OR BE HAPPY WITHOUT GOD. and each relative feels the need to say this in a long 10 minutes speech where they repeat themselves 10 times (10 minutes might not seem like long a time, but when this happens 8 more times, you want to kill yourself!) one aunt said, no matter how much money or material possessions you have, if you don't have God, you won't be happy. and i thought to myself (i recognize this is mean-spirited but i'm at my wits end), well you and the rest of the family only think that because you ARE poor and need to tell yourself this to not feel depressed!
the last uncle asked me what my new years resolution for a purpose-driven 2006 was. my good younger cousins said dutifully (and sincerely i think), live life more for God. when it was my turn, i said, build my career, manage my time better and be more organized and stop being late to things, have a better relationship with my parents and brother and sister-in-law, and find a boyfriend (i thought that would appease all the relatives who keep saying, when are you getting married? it's time to get married!). but then my uncle replied, haven't you forgotten something? the most important thing? struggling not to groan and roll my eyes, I said, "oh, you mean, like go to church?" and he said, "yes...and anything else?" and i said, "um...read the bible and pray?" and he said, "yes...and anything else?" and then i was at a loss, so he said, "have a personal relationship with God!" AND EVERYONE ELSE sitting around voiced their agreement, nodding or saying that's right or yes or something. and my dad said, "Lily, God is your witness to this." ohmygod, WHY WAS I BORN INTO A FREAKIN' CULT!!